Electrical controller.



F. VAN NESS.

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 1910.

1,153,978. PafentedSept. 21, 1915.

n Q I v o N Q? 3 3: Q3 1 a g 7 Inventor:

I STATES PATENT oF rc FRANK w. VAN NESS, or-nmwaoxsnwlscoNsiN, AssIGNoB, BY MEsNE sssmN- uENTs, T0 mcrmoNn nsnmron conrm, or NEW YORK, N., Y., A conrom'noN OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. VA Nnss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electr cal Controllers, of which the following 15 a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof. a

This invention-relates to an electrical-controller for vacuum cleaning systems and the like, and the objects of the invention are to provide an electrical controller WhlCh is simple in construction so as not to get out of order easily, which can be depended upon to positively open or close an electric circuit without fail, which will positively keep the circuit closed, and which will readily respond to changes in the pressure existing in the vacuum system in such a manner that the pressure actuated part of the controller will move to its predetermined limits of 1 stroke upon the establishment of the predetermined pressures in the vacuum system,

' so that the electric switch will be immedia'tely and positively opened or'closed.

' Preferably the electric switch of the controller' is constructed to act on the principle Y of a snap switch to prevent arcing when the switch is opened or closed,but the structure of the controller is such that the switch is positively opened or closed by the pressure actuated member, should the switch stick to the contact through which it completes the circuit, or should the elements of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915;

Application filed April 18, 1910. Serial N0. 556,093.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a cylinder provided with a flanged head 2, which is preferably formed integral with the body of the cyllnder 1. The opposite end of the cylinder is preferably enlarged transverselyand symmetrically on opposite sides of the cylinder, as shown and designated by the reference numerals 3 and 4, whereby ahollow V-shaped extension is provided extending' from the end of the cylinder 1. The

cylinder is provided with a bracket 5, by

which the controller can be readily bolted .communication between some part of the vacuum cleaning system in which a vacuum is maintained and the interior of cylinder 1 and cap 6 below the piston 9 in cylinder 1.

The cylinder 9 as illustrated, is shown as a hollow trunk piston provided, with packing grooves 10 on the-exterior thereof to prevent the passage of air by said piston between it and the cylinder. The head .11 of the plston is provided with a boss or projection 12, which is adapted to seat against a leather washer 13, retained in a cavity 14 in the head 2 of the cylinder. The piston. hassecured'thereto a piston rod 15 which pro]-ects through the aperture 16 in the cylthe controller which cause the switch to act r'i-nder head 2 and on its end carries a yoke drawings the same reference characters are #i used to designate the same parts whereverl they may appear in each of the several views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the controller, the top casing being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line aa,- Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and Fig. 3 isa plan view of the top of the controller, the top casing being omitted.

-member '17. The yoke-member 17- is composed of two parts, viz La lug 18 of suitable. insulating material, secured to the piston rod 15 by a pin 19 or other suitable means, and a yoke member proper 20, secured tosaid lug by a pin 21 or other suitable means. The head 2 of the cylinderhas' a recess 22 in its outer face withinwhich is seated a leather washer 23, against which the lug 18 is adapted to seat. The function of the leather washers 13 and 23 is to absorb the shock caused by the movements of the piston 9, yoke member 17 and piston-rod 15.

The piston 9 is-preferably provided with a spider 2 1 in the interior thereof provided with two diametrically disposed lugs '25 a d 26, and the cover 6 is provided with oppositely disposed lugs only one of which is q the reference numeral 27. The lugs 27 supthereto,

port apivot pin 28 upon which is Supported an-equali7ing lever 29 provided with two oppositely extending arms 30 and 31. The

ends of arms 30 and 31 are provided with spring seats 32 and. 33 pivotally secured and spring seats 34 and 35 are pivotally'secured to lugs 25 and 26. Springs 36 and 37 of the open or compression type are seated on the spring seats 32 and 34 and 33 and 35 respectively, said' springs being disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of cylinder 1 and the direction of movement of piston 9 in the manner as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The. numeral 38 designates a drain plug in the bottom of the cover 6 to drain off any water of condensation which may collect in said cover.

The numerals 39 and 40 designate apertures in the head of the cylinder 1 by means of which free communication is established between the atmosphere and the space within the cylinder above the piston 9.

The numeral 41 designates a standard secured to the flange top 2 of cylinder 1 and suitably insulated therefrom by insulating material 42. The numeral 43 designates another standard secured to the flanged top of cylinder 1 and suitably insulated therefrom by insulating material 44. The standard 41 is provided with a laterally projecting arm 45 from which depends a carbon contact block 46 which is in electrical. communication with a conducting wire 47.

Pivoted on standard 43 is a bell crank lever 48, which is loosely connected by one.-

of its arms to a pin 49 on yoke 20. To its other end is secured a spiral spring 50, which is also secured to a rocker 51, above the pivot 52 therefor. Abent switch member 53, issecured to the rocker 51, and passes through the yoke 20. A conducting wire 54 is secured to rocker 51, and is provided with a helical portion 55, which permits of movement of the rocker 51 on its pivots 52. The switch 53 passes between a pin 56 secured to yoke 20,- and the top of yoke 20 has a downwardly extending projection 57, adapted to contact with switch 53 to pull switch 53 away from the carbon contact 46 under certain circumstances to be hereinafter stated.

It will be noted that as the piston 9 moves downwardly within cylinder 1, the bell crank lever 48 will be rocked on its pivot, thereby bringing the'end of the spring attached to said bell crank lever 48 on theother side of pivot 52 from that shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, and it will be readily recognized that when the end of spring 50 is carried by the pivot 52 by the movement of the bell crank lever 48, the spring 50 will swing the rocker 5l..and switch 53 downwardly quickly, thereby snapping switch 53 away from the carbon contact 46, and this before the pro1ection 57.

action will occur on yoke 20 touches switch 53. It is also evident that when the switch is open and the piston 9 moves upwardly within the cylinder 1, the bell crank lever 48 will carry the lower end of spring 50 to theright hand side of the pivot 53, as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the spring will tilt the rocker 51 into the position shown by Fig.

. 2 of the drawings, quickly,thereby snapping switch 53 against the carbon contact 4%, 1n the same general manner that snap switches are commonly actuated.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, that when piston 9 is in its elevated position, as shown, pin 56 bears against the lower side of switch 53 and presses said switch 53 firmly against the carbon contact 46, thereby maintaining a good and firm contact.

The function and eifect of the springs 36 and 37 in the inclined positions shown, is to exert a certain pressure against piston 9, to maintain it in its elevated position, as shown, until a predetermined difference in pressure is established in the vacuum system between the vacuum existing therein and atmospheric pressure. The selected predetermined pressure can be readily established by using springs of the required strength, and with the arrangement as shown and described, the piston 9will move up or down under the influence of changes of pressure in the vacuum system in a manner which will be readily understood.

The switch 53 being bent as shown, makes a rubbing contact with the carbon contact 46, so that said switch is kept clean and pitting of the switch and the carbon contact at the points where the main current passes, are obviated. This rubbing contact is accentuated by the pin 56 pressing switch 53 against the contact 46.-

The piston 9 is the pressure actuating part of the apparatus, and is responsive in its movements to'difierences of pressure existing within the vacuum system and the atmosphere.

The numeral 58 designates a cap or casing for the electrical part of the controller to inclose said part and protect the electrical parts from dust and dirt.

The rocker 51 and switch 53 are made as light as is advisable with the particular cur rent to be carried, so that spring 50 will only have a small amount of work to do, and can snap or move said parts very quickly. It might happen that switch 53 would become fused or stuck to contact 46, so that spring 50 would not be strong enough to snap the switch. 53' away from contact 46, on the downward movement of piston 9. Under such a condition the circuit would remainclosed, but'the projection 57 provides means for pulling switch 53 away from contact 46.

The switch 53 is intended to open or close the electric circuit within which is included an electric motor for operating the exhausting pump or other device which creates and maintains a vacuum in the system, and it will be readily apparent that when the proper degree of vacuum desired has been reached, which is determined by the strength of springs 36 and 37, piston 9 will be forced to its extreme lower position, thereby separating switch 53 from contact 16 and cutting off the supply of current to the motor or other apparatus which creates a vacuum in the system. On the other hand, when the circuit is open and the pressure in the vacuum system rises, piston 9 will be forced to its extreme upper position, thereby contacting switch 53 with contact 46 and holding said switch against said contact by the pin 56. v

I am aware that many changes in structural details may be made from those disclosed by the drawings and described in this specification, but

\Vhat I claim is:

In an electrical controller, the combination of a bell crank lever provided with a pivot, a rocker pivoted adjacent the pivot of the bell crank lever and in the same general direction from the pivot of the bell crank lever in which one of the arms of the bell crank lever extends, a spring connected to the end of that arm of the bell crank lever and extending substantially in line there with and connected with the rocker at a I point remote from its pivot, a flexible switch member carriedby the rocker, a contact for said switch member, a reciprocatable yoke member embracing said flexible switch'member and provided with means to contact with said flexible switch member when the yoke is reciprocated in either direction, one of said means being adapted to hold said flexible switch member against said contact, and the other of said means being adapted to 'force said flexible switch member away from said contact when stuck thereto, said yoke member being pivotally connected with said bell crank lever, and means adapted to reciprocate said yoke member.

In witness whereof I hereto afiix my signature in presence of-two witnesses.

- FRANK W. VAN NESS.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. DENNETT, ALICE E. Goes. 

